THE INVOLVEMENT OF ATTENTIONAL MECHANISMS IN CHILDREN'S SELF-REGULATION ABILITIES

Written by Carmen GONZALEZ, Luis J. FUENTES, Jose A. CARRANZA on 15 December 2006. Posted in Special issue: Social, Cognitive And Neural Perspectives, Guest Editors: Thea IONESCU, Oana BENGA, Volume VII, Nr. 2

ABSTRACT

The present work aims to address the study of the temperament dimension Self-Regulation in children, in connection to attention processes. The studies reviewed suggest that attentional mechanisms contribute to the development of emotional/behavioral self-regulation abilities. Individual differences in attentional control have also been found related to regulatory capacities. These findings support the hypothesis of a common biological basis. Although originally biological, self-regulation tendencies are shaped by experiential factors of the individual and by environmental influences. In this respect, the role of caregivers in guiding the developmental pattern of self-regulation is stressed.

KEYWORDS: self-regulation, effortful control, attentional networks, temperament, childhood.